Walburga Krebber

Walburga Krebber has been chairwoman of Fortuna Seppenrade for five years / like a big family

Walburga Krebber is a village girl. "I could walk through the countryside every day," she says. The 69-year-old has lived in Seppenrade since 1973. "I love village life," enthuses Walburga Krebber about the rose village. "I know so many people here. If you need help, there's always someone there. It's just lovely!"

She has been the chairwoman of Fortuna Seppenrade for five years. She came to her position like a virgin. "We have a really great board. If the executive board weren't so actively and competently involved in the life of the club, I wouldn't have said yes. With this support, as well as that of the Council of Elders, I was able to take on this position," says Walburga Krebber.

She has also known the life of the association for years from the FF. She joined Fortuna through her late husband. He was chairman from 1986 to 1997. "And as a woman, you were part of it. The women on the board were automatically part of it," says Krebber. For 35 years, she and many other women have been running the coffee bar at the footballers' home games. "We bake cakes and serve coffee and other drinks. Young and old come together. The clubhouse is a meeting place for everyone on Sunday afternoons," says the 69-year-old, who was also Managing Director from 1994 to 2000.

Contact with the departments

As chairwoman, her main tasks are to represent, organize and make phone calls. "I keep in touch with all the departments," explains Walburga Krebber. This is particularly important now during the coronavirus crisis. "Nothing is happening at the moment. And that's such a shame. Especially for the children who want to meet their friends. And for everyone who wants to exercise." She also misses exercise herself. "I like to go swimming. Unfortunately, that's not possible at the moment," says the 69-year-old.

Club life is at a standstill

The whole club life is at a standstill. "Come to the facility here on Saturday mornings at normal times. The youth teams are playing soccer. Lots of parents are there to watch. There's a lot going on here," enthuses Walburga Krebber. She is sad that no senior or youth games can take place at the moment. "I hope that we can at least finish the first half of the season." She doesn't believe in the whole season.

What does she like so much about club life? "The community that you experience here. We're like one big family. When a project comes up, everyone helps out. Just one example: the parking lot had to be paved. And it's not exactly small. So on Saturday mornings, board members and footballers came and laid the paving stones."

Everyone is welcome

Fortuna Seppenrade has around 1000 members. "Everyone is welcome here," says Walburga Krebber, promoting the sport. "We have a soccer section with men's, women's and youth soccer, a recreational sports section with gymnastics, children's gymnastics, children's dance, unicycling, volleyball and handball.

Fortuna is also a sports badge training center. You can take the sports badge here from April to October." A lot of volunteers are needed to offer all this. There is an annual volunteer day for all those who volunteer at Fortuna.

Hope for the summer

Walburga Krebber also thinks it's a shame that social life in the whole village has come to a standstill. "We wanted to take part in Seppenrade last year, but unfortunately that didn't work out either," she says. "Let's hope that things will be different again this summer." Nadine Wenge